Apple may halt slider-style iPhone cases to head off “Glassgate”

Apple has suspended sales of "slider" style cases for the iPhone 4 in its …

After dealing with widely publicized issues regarding the iPhone 4's antenna design, along with the manufacturing "challenges" that have indefinitely delayed the white iPhone, Apple appears to be proactively preventing a so-called "Glassgate." According to a new report from Cult of Mac, the company has halted its sales of slider-style cases for the iPhone 4 thanks to concerns that the cases can damage the device's rear glass cover.

The problem, according to a report last month from gdgt, is that dirt or other foreign particles can become trapped between the rear cover and a slider case. As the case is repeatedly put on or taken off, the particles supposedly cause scratching and eventual cracking of the rear glass.

Cult of Mac said that the rear glass isn't the same hardened Gorilla Glass used on the front cover, which may cause it to be easier to crack or damage. In any case, the iPhone 4's all-glass front and rear covers are ostensibly more prone to damage than previous models that had polycarbonate or aluminum casings.

"Glassgate is a real problem," said an anonymous source speaking to Cult of Mac. "Apple is not approving slide-on cases right now for its stores."

That includes a new iPhone 4 version of the Mophie Juice Pack, which includes an extended runtime battery built in to a slider case. The company is believed to have had thousands manufactured for sale during the holidays, but they may not be available in Apple's popular retail stores in time as Apple is said to be slowly evaluating each case for approval.

Meanwhile, Hard Candy Cases CEO Tim Hickman went on record as saying that sales data for his company's slider cases doesn't support the notion that Glassgate is actually a problem. "I've shipped 22,000 units and not heard a single complaint," he told Cult of Mac. "If there was a problem, we would have heard about it by now."